The referee in charge of the Italy vs Albania clash, Felix Zwayer has been slammed by former referee, Manuel Grafe. Grafe has slammed the German Football Federation for allowing a referre in UEFA Euro 2024 who has been previously involved in match fixing scandal.
Match Fixing Scandal
Manuel Grafe took to social media to hit hard at the German Association. Back in 2005, Felix Zwayer was involved in a major match fixing scandal. Subsequently, Felix Zwayer was suspended from referring in the Bundesliga for a period of six months.
In 2005, Robert Hoyzer was accused of taking bribes in the league. Though Felix Zwayer along with the other match officials reported the incident to the league, they were still charged. As a result, Felix Zwayer was banned for six month for his involvement in the match fixing saga.
“This match will go down as a great shame in the glorious history of German referees over the last decades. A referee who was involved in match fixing and who remained silent about it for six months until the final moment, thereby enabling further manipulation [being involved],” Grafe wrote on social media.
“[He was] Sentenced by own association, was nominated by DFB/UEFA (zero tolerance match fixing) for the Euros and appointed for this game. Fits this strange time where connection is much more important than values and performances (he’s average at best). Other referees deserved it more,” Grafe concluded.
